Inglewood Mayor Dorn pleads not guilty

Inglewood Mayor Roosevelt Dorn pleaded not guilty to charges of conflict-of-interest and misappropriation of public funds involving a low-interest loan he obtained through the city in 2004. "My client is not guilty, and we are fighting the case 100 percent," said defense attorney Albert DeBlanc Jr. Dorn, who is accused of one felony count each of conflict of interest, unauthorized loan and misappropriation of public funds without authority of law, was charged June 26. He remains free on his own recognizance. He is also charged with one misdemeanor count of conflict of interest. The criminal complaint alleges that the crimes occurred in November 2004. According to the District Attorney's Office, the charges stem from Dorn's alleged request to have a city resident incentive providing low-interest housing in Inglewood for executive non-elected municipal employees extended to elected officials. The change was adopted in June 2004 by the Inglewood City Council. Dorn got at $500,000 loan through the program in November 2004, and allegedly used some of the funds to pay off his home in Inglewood and allegedly put the rest into his bank account, according to the District Attorney's Office. DeBlanc said that he has not had a change to review documents about the case. Los Angeles Superior Court Commissioner Henry J. Hall ordered the 72-year-old mayor to return to court Aug. 21, when a date is scheduled to be set for a hearing to determine if there is enough evidence to require him to stand trial.